Hackensack Meridian Health Welcomes First Baby Born in the Network at MIDNIGHT

While the state was ringing in the start of 2025, Julissa and Manfer Lopez, and their Labor and Delivery care team at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center, were welcoming the newest member of the Neptune City family - a baby girl born at exactly midnight.

Hackensack Meridian Health proudly welcomes Cataleya Lopez, the fourth child born at Jersey Shore University Hospital to the Lopez family. Cataleya weighed 6 pounds and 12 ounces. 

“Hackensack Meridian Health is proud to deliver the world-class healthcare we are recognized for to Baby Girl Lopez, and the other children born in our network hospitals today, and to the many babies that will be born throughout 2025,” said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, CEO ofHackensack Meridian Health. “A special thank you to our team members for their continued commitment to providing outstanding and compassionate care. Congratulations to all the families, and a happy and healthy new year to all!”

An academic medical center, Jersey Shore University Medical Center is a Regional Perinatal Center for high-risk pregnancies. U.S. News & World Report ranks Jersey Shore’s Obstetrics and Gynecology Department as Best in New Jersey, and Jersey Shore as one of the Best Hospitals in the nation for Maternity Care. Its Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) achieved the AACN Gold-Level Beacon Award for excellence in nursing care in 2024. 

Other babies born at Hackensack Meridian Health hospitals. 

• At 1:56 am, Hackensack Meridian JFK University Medical Center, and parents, Supal and Hinal Patel of Parlin, New Jersey, welcomed Baby Boy Patel who weighed 7 pounds and 0.8 ounces.
• Baby Isabella, who weighed 7 pounds and 12.6 ounces, was born at 4:55 AM at Hackensack Meridian Raritan Bay Medical Center, to mom Yeraldin Mercedes Castillo de Mendez of Perth Amboy, New Jersey.
• Baby Girl Jin weighed 4 pounds and 8.3 ounces and was born at 5:23 AM at Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center to Yuan Ling and Yifeng Jin of Jersey City.
• Lesley Calle and Jonathan Garcia of Bloomfield, NJ, welcomed Baby Jayden at 1:22 PM at Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center. He weighed 8 pounds and 6 ounces.
• Joseph and Carly Szal of Cliffwood, New Jersey, welcomed a son. Baby Joseph June was born at 4:01 PM, at Hackensack Meridian Riverview Medical Center. He weighed 8 pounds and 3 ounces.
• Baby Dante was born at 9:35 PM at Hackensack Meridian Pascack Valley Medical Center to Alec and Julianna Balestra from Dumont, New Jersey. He weighed 7 pounds and 8 ounces.